Bridging the Gap of Healthcare Disparities in Wicomico County

The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Ephphatha Medical Care Services with its official ribbon cutting this past June 30th in their Salisbury office.

Guests were welcomed by Emanie Dorival, Founder/CEO who introduced Dr. Cynthia Calixted, Medical Director for the Salisbury office and Pastor Joseph Dave Dorival, her husband and administrator of their practice. Emanie shared with us that after a mission trip to Ghana, Africa, a need to help others ignited in her and when she returned to the US she went back to school and prepared herself for this “new mission.”

She opened Ephphatha Seaford in 2019, and seeing the need to bridging the gap of healthcare disparities in Wicomico County, she opened Ephphatha Salisbury in November 2021.

Ephphatha Medical Care Services is a minority owned, family clinic dedicated to provide medical care services for acute or chronic diseases. The practices provide services in adult medicine, dermatology, gynecology and pediatrics.

Their mission is “to care, to educate, and to heal by providing high quality health care services and health promotion.” They are a provider of Medicare, Medicaid and most major insurance plans.

In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Ephphatha is “Be Opened.” This practice serves all patients regardless of ability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered based on family size and income and a sliding fee scale is available for any patient without insurance.

Emanie said she was blessed to have had the help and support of chamber members, The Haitian Development Center, and Rebirth, Inc., as well as Senator Addie Eckard, Mark Luckner from The Maryland Community Health Commission, and Dr. Cookey, Deputy Director of the Wicomico County Health Department.

During the ribbon cutting, a group of 50+ members, family and friends enjoyed delightful appetizers, as well as a full Caribbean food buffet, that included plantains, vegetables, lamb, turkey, pasta and rice and beans.

For more information, please contact Ephphatha at 443-407-0525, www.ephphathamedical.com or by visiting their office at 560 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, MD.